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Ski season is over and I’m looking forward to spring. This weekend I want to plant some seedlings and watch them grow in the Reno sunshine.

There are several events coming up in Reno and also the Bay area, I’m so excited to get more involved again with local food and gardening. I love spring time for the new growth and refreshed perspective of life and purpose.

My tentative schedule feels pretty jam packed considering I am weeks behind in school after missing so much for skiing, but its time to be efficient and productive.

Spring Schedule:

March 24: Environmental talk at Reynolds School of Journalism building, 7:30.

March 26: Made in Reno and the Knitting Factory-local music show, charity for the Washoe County School district, music program. Show starts at 6:30, $15 at the door.

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Shelley from Local Food Northern Nevada sent me this email about genetically engineered alfalfa in Nev. This gave me chills and made me feel sick, please give me some hope in the world and sign the petition.

Help me protect the food we eat and the way we farm! Nevada is in the spotlight for Monsanto’s planned release of genetically engineered alfalfa. After fighting off its release in the federal courts 4 years ago, we are facing a second attempt. The USDA has stated that there is no evidence that “organic consumers care about GE contamination.” We have until March 3, 2010 to prove them wrong (that’s less than a week!). This ruling will be especially significant since the release of GE alfalfa in Nevada is seen as a testing ground and its successful release would open the floodgates for other states and other GE crops.

Why is GE alfalfa harmful?
– It is wrong to leave farmers, whether organic or conventional, vulnerable to
contamination of their crops. The potential for biological contamination from a
neighbor’s field, even miles away, threatens the livelihood of organic farmers,
dairies, and other livestock producers. The farmers may also be subject to
harassment by Monsanto if Monsanto’s investigators find DNA from GE alfalfa
mixed in with the farmer’s crops.

– As a consumer, you do not want to buy GE-alfalfa-derived meat and dairy
products. The USDA claims that consumers will not be harmed by the approval of GE
alfalfa, but has not conducted studies of the effects of feeding GE alfalfa to
livestock.

– GE alfalfa would be the first perennial crop to be approved for genetic
modification and release. GE-contaminated plants could be scattered along the
roadsides and in fields, living and producing more GE-contaminated pollen for
years.

– GE alfalfa would significantly increase pesticide use, harming both human
health and the environment. USDA admits (correctly) that introduction of Roundup
Ready alfalfa will increase Roundup use. However, USDA’s claims that the
increase is not significant and that Roundup will replace other, more toxic
herbicides are wrong and unsupported by any evidence.